Sodium chloride is the chemical name for this mineral commonly used for seasoning food
salt
In 2020 this K-pop boy group burst out with "Dynamite", a No. 1 hit
BTS
At Christmas couples may steal a kiss beneath a sprig of this
mistletoe
The U.S. welcomed 75,000 refugees from this country in the 6 months after the Taliban re-took it over in 2021
Afghanistan
The Red Sea separates this large peninsula from Africa
Arabia
In the 1960s, the Pearson Pennant was one of three finalists to be our national flag, but the Flag Committee went with a design using a single one of these leaves instead
a maple leaf
NOTORIOUS PLACES
Al Capone played banjo in a band called the Rock Islanders at this notorious spot
Here's the diagram for the chemical structure of this substance
water
"I'd catch a grenade for ya", he sang in a No. 1 song
Bruno Mars
It means to hire an actor for a role that doesn't suit them
miscasting
Monarch butterflies go south to the state of Michoacán in this country & many michoacanos have come north to the United States
Mexico
Perhaps you've traveled to the southern tip of this peninsula for some resort R&R in Cabo San Lucas
Baja (California)
Tracing its roots to 1980s Canadian street performance, this "circus of the sun" hit Las Vegas with its first permanent show Mystère in 1993
Cirque du Soleil
Al Capone played banjo in a band called the Rock Islanders at this notorious spot
Alcatraz
The lowest possible temperature, -459,67 degrees Fahrenheit, is known as absolute this
zero
His singing career really burst into the stratosphere with "Rocket Man", which says, "burning out his fuse up here alone"
Elton John
In court if a jury can't come to a unanimous decision, the judge may declare this
a mistrial
Punjabi Sikhs in the U.S. gravitated to selling petrol, as they say in India; Darshan Singh Dhaliwal's empire had hundreds of these
gas stations
Spain's flagship airline is named for this peninsula where you'll find Spain & Portugal
Iberia
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity? I hope not, as "you oughtta know" this Ontario-born singer who had one of the biggest albums of the 1990s
Alanis Morissette
The chemical elements are arrayed according to atomic number on this, a name indicating regular intervals
periodic table
"Boom Boom Pow" is an explosive track from this group that includes will.i.am
the Black Eyed Peas
A Broadway musical based on the music of Fats Waller is called "Ain't" this
Misbehavin'
In September 2022 about 50 migrants from Venezuela were surprised to find themselves on this Massachusetts resort island
Martha's Vineyard
This Midwest state whose motto calls it a "pleasant peninsula" consists of 2, the Upper & Lower Peninsulas
Michigan
Saying that is belonged to the world & not to him, Frederick Banting wanted diabetics to be able to afford this hormone he helped extract in 1921; he sold his patent to my alma mater the University of Toronto for $1
insulin
Atoms combine to make these larger but still tiny particles, the smallest that make up identifiable substances
molecules
This group with Cherie Currie & Joan Jett exploded with "Hello, Daddy, hello, Mom, I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch cherry bomb"
the Runaways
It's a 7-letter word for an often long, handwritten letter
missive
Last name of the Maltese American once known as "Mayor Pete" & also of Paul, a mayor of Qala on Malta
Buttigieg
Djursland peninsula is the "wildest part of" this peninsular country that sticks out of the top of Germany
Denmark
Prairie trading posts with names like Stand Off & Whoop-Up were dominated by sleazy whiskey traders; this law enforcement group was created to clean them up
the Mounties (the RCMP, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police)